Enter Trayvon Martin

I am so glad it's not my child, but I am sorry it happened to someone's son. Trayvon Martin, a high school junior from Florida was shot and killed for what, skittles, or was it for looking like a suspicious Black kid. The alleged shooter was 28 year old George Zimmerman, the captain of his neighborhood watch group. Zimmerman who is White; his rational for shooting Martin was self defense. That's pretty hard to believe when one listens to the 911 tapes and you hear someone yelling help repeatedly. I have a son, and I am my mother's son. I was taught when I was out, on the street, my job was 1) not to get arrested, 2) don't cause trouble, and 3) make sure I always come home. If I violated those rules on my own, I got punished simply because I broke the house rules. But if I violated those rules not of my own doing, my momma would go the complete fool, and that's with medication. I remember one time when this racist cop pulled me on the suspicion of drunk driving. I wasn't drunk and the cop let me go on my way. When I told mom about it, she was overcome with tears of joy. I didn't know why until a few years later. It was late at night. There were no witnesses, and the cop was armed. In hindsight, it was my initiation or graduation day. I could have been shot and killed, labeled whatever the cop put in his police report. One time, I actually did have a gun drawn on me by police, I was carrying a baloney sandwich. Instinct kicked in, I got on the ground, face down, and did as directed. I explained the situation, gave him a business card, and went on about my way. Unfortunately, when the back up arrived, I think he was upset that he didn't get a chance to save the day. In the case of Trayvon though, he wasn't even killed by a cop, but instead some wannabe cop reject because he was black, and looked "suspicious." I have a black president, yet as a black man, I still look suspicious. I'm so glad this did not happen to my son because I just would not be stable. I'd be looking to kill somebody and possibly their family. I would be insane because my child is my world. If that's compromised because of callous stupidity, I'd just have to write my books from jail. I'd be a model prisoner helping folks get their degrees. Seriously, I don't think I would have the strength to be as dignified as Trayvons parents.